In the United States, scientists have discovered a new class of material that challenges the fundamental rules of nature. Researchers from the University of Chicago’s Department of Molecular Engineering and the University of San Diego in California have developed new-generation materials that shrink when heated and expand under pressure. This newly discovered class of metastable materials exhibits behaviors that defy the basic laws of thermodynamics. Professor Dr. Shirley Meng from the University of Chicago’s Department of Molecular Engineering stated, “Materials are expected to expand when heated. However, in this study, we observed the opposite and developed a structure that shrinks when heated.” She mentioned that the properties of these materials can be adjusted by redox chemistry, opening a new door in energy technologies. Researcher Dr. Minghao Zhang also noted that these new class of materials could be tailored to exhibit zero thermal expansion, saying, “Differences in thermal expansion of various building materials used in each building can lead to serious problems. However, these materials can prevent such issues.” The researchers aim to make the chemical behaviors of the new material more detailed, enabling its application in various fields from energy storage systems to space technologies.